Looks like it's going to be a rough crossing

Still keeping a close eye on the weater. It looks like it's going to be a bit rough. They are predicting about 20-24 knots of wind so that's about a 7. If this stays on we may have to delay for a couple of hours in IJmuiden but we can't delay for too long. If we stay in IJmuiden too long we will arrive in Lowestoft in the dark. This is possible but not favorable. In front of the cost are the Holm Sands and we have to pick up the south holm cardinal boy that marks the beginning of the stanford channel behind the banks. If you miss this you may end up on the sands, as my dad has experienced years ago. So we would like to arrive in the daylight but we also want to have a calm crossing. A bit of a catch 22. We'll figure it out when we arrive in IJmuiden.
Tomorrow is Koninginnedag, a big festive party in Holland. We are going to sell some old junk and I have arranged to meet at the marina at 16.00 hours. We leave at 17.00 for amsterdam and IJmuiden.
Will keep you posted!
Cheers
Nick

Ready to go!

She FLOATS!! Two weeks ago Dannick was refloated and set back into her bearth in Muiden. While she was on dryland I polished the heck out of her so you need to wear sunglasses as not to be blinded by her shiny topsides.

I have mouted all her sails and have made everything in order for the first real trip of the season. All her provisions have been restocked so there is plenty of booze and today I have filled her diesel tanks.

The weather for the trip looks alright. We are leaving in the evening of the 30th and there is a low forcast just over the UK with strong winds near landsend. Hope they stay there. Further up the channel at the height of our crossing, winds of around 15-23 knots are forcast. Lets hope the waives are low. It looks a bit rainy but that's not going to stop us. This is the GRIB file for the 30th at 18.00 hours: